On September 23rd over 50 people gathered at Myler Hall, Christs Church Cathedral in support of MPP Paul Miller’s Private Members’ Bill — Bill 6, Ministry of Community and Social Services Amendment Act (Social Assistance Research Commission), 2016. We heard from community activists, persons with lived experience of the social assistance system and MPP Hamilton East – Stoney Creek Paul Miller. And a big thank you to our MC Deirdre Pike who led us through Tom Cooper’s new game — The Price is Wrong!
ODSP is NOT enough to live on!..rents in half decent places in Windsor are close to $850 and up plus hydro and if you are getting $1,110 monthly there is not enough to go around. The red tape where the disability takes 50% of your earnings if you try to supplement your income with a little job and you have car repairs etc isn’t fair. I am in overdraft at my bank and cant do anything about it and after paying bills I am over what I get in ODSP and have nothing left for groceries, gas, car repairs etc. I am alone and disabled and when I turn 65 in a year I loose all my benifets and have very little to live on. I have a friend who was alone, went from ODSP to old age and wouldnt turn his heat on because of the high hydro bills. that was in 2013 when we had that horrible brutal winter. He almost died in his place but we were checking on him and he couldn’t walk because of severe gout in both feet and blood clots in both lungs. Its pathetic that the refugies are treated better and have more support than your basic senior.